Week 6, Daily 3, April 6th

Stoicism is the belief that when confronted with hardships, one has to control his or her emotions; Seneca's death is a great example of stoicism because he doesn't allow his emotions to be shown. Seneca was an emotional less when it came to the outside appearance of him. He didn't allow for people to see how he was feeling on the inside. The only person who knew how he felt was himself. Even while being put to death, others saw either little or no emotion coming from Seneca. His own wife didn't even know what was going on inside of his mind. A great example of stoicism would be Seneca's death because he portrayed no emotions while being put to death.

As Seneca said before he was killed, "Where," he asked again and again, "are your maxims of philosophy, or the preparation of so many years' study against evils to come? Who knew not Nero's cruelty? After a mother's and a brother's murder, nothing remains but to add the destruction of a guardian and a tutor." In this, he is talking about how no one knew how tough and cruel Nero was to believe that Seneca was guilty of conspiracy. Even when he should've acted highly upset with what he was being acused of, he acted like it didn't even phase him. He portrayed himself as though he was just puzzled by what was going on. He put the questions in the people's minds of whether or not Nero was doing the right thing by killing him. This portrayed him as non emotional and uncaring.

"Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will, and, on the centurion's refusal, turned to his friends, protesting that as he was forbidden to requite them, he bequeathed to them the only, but still the noblest possession yet remaining to him, the pattern of his life, which, if they remembered, they would win a name for moral worth and steadfast friendship." After finding out that he was going to be put to death, Seneca had to leave everything he had behind for his family and friends, just like we do today. He told them in the will that he loved them and wouldn't forget them. Even though this will portrayed some emotion of love, he stayed strong through everything he was going through and didn't allow his closest people ot him see how much he was hurting inside. He still, when faced with death, didn't seem to be scared.

"Then by one and the same stroke they sundered with a dagger the arteries of their arms. Seneca, as his aged frame, attenuated by frugal diet, allowed the blood to escape but slowly, severed also the veins of his legs and knees. Worn out by cruel anguish, afraid too that his sufferings might break his wife's spirit, and that, as he looked on her tortures, he might himself sink into irresolution, he persuaded her to retire into another chamber. Even at the last moment his eloquence failed him not; he summoned his secretaries, and dictated much to them which, as it has been published for all readers in his own words, I forbear to paraphrase." Seneca's appearance started to diminish and become worn out because of him stressing on the inside over his death sentence. He didn't want his wife to worry about him, so he had her stay in a different room. He also probably didn't want her to see him in a weak state because that could show weakness in his mind. He wanted her to feel as though he was going to be alright and everything was fine. On the inside, he was really at the brink of death.

Seneca the Younger was an excellent example of stoicism because he never let his emotions be seen through out the time of his troubles. He was faced with being put to death because of a ruler who disliked the way he was acting. Most normal people would be scared beyond belief. Seneca shows stoicism because he didn't show that he was scared. No one could even tell he was even stressing over it. His death had to scare him, but no one even knew.



Sources:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook10.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/tacitus-ann15a.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger